FashBlog.com

by Christina VanGinkel

What makes one outfit stand out from another that is similarly cut and styled? Sometimes it is the quality of the fabric and overall workmanship. Oftentimes it is the details, such as buttons and trims. There is not a lot that you can do about the quality and workmanship of an item, but the great thing about details is that you can alter them. An old, tired outfit can have new life breathed into it with brand new or new vintage buttons and trims. Buttons can be replaced with more decorative, stylish examples. Trims in various forms and incantations can be replaced or added. Buttons and trims are available in so many variations that your possibilities are limited only to your imagination.

Vintage buttons and trim are one of my favorite ways to renew an outfit's lifespan. Buttons applied to new outfits are often very basic and plain. Vintage buttons are available in a wide range of colors, materials, and sizes. Buttons made of plastic, mother of pearl, bone, wood, gemstones, metals, and a myriad of other materials are waiting to be rediscovered and put to use. Some good places to find vintage buttons include antique stores, rummage and estate sales, warehouses that are clearing out old stock, second hand stores such as St.Vincent DePaul and Goodwill, and specialty stores that deal in new and vintage sewing notions and embellishments. Sometimes the buttons will already be removed from their original article of clothing, and other times, often when shopping second hand shops, the buttons will need to be removed from their original piece of clothing before being put back into use. New buttons can also be used, the key being that you use those that will liven up the outfit and not just swap one set of boring buttons for another.

Ribbons in grosgrain, silk, velvet, and organdy, satin, leather, taffeta, and other materials can be purchased new or also from the same vintage outlets that were suggested for buttons. Also, keep your eyes open for other interesting trims when shopping. Beaded and appliqued feathers and flowers were often made in very decorative forms, and can be reused as long as they are in reasonably good shape. Make sure to check for loose threads or buttons before applying to a new outfit, and make any needed repairs. If the colors are faded badly, or a main part of the design is damaged badly, it is usually best to pass, with the one exception being a beaded item that contains beads worth salvaging.

Once you have refitted your outfit in new buttons or trims, make sure to keep this in mind the next time you clean it. Many vintage buttons can be washed in the same manner as new ones, while others should only be hand washed. If you send your clothes out to be washed or dry-cleaned, make sure to let them know that the buttons or trims are not what came on the original item, so that they can alter their method for cleaning the item if necessary.